February Members Meeting of The Withlacoochee Chapter Sons of the American RevolutionFebruary 27, 2014Held at:FEBRUARY 22, 11:00 AMGeneral Members MeetingLakeside Country Club 4555 E Windmill Dr. Inverness, FL 34453 (352) 419 6511

Pictures compliments of Immediate Past President Charlie Day

February is the 104th Anniversary of Scouting and 2014 is the 75th anniversary of Gulf Ridge Council BSA.Jeremiah Lovestrand, winner of the Withlacoochee Chapter, SAR, George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest was introduced by, 2nd Vice President, Clyde Johnson. Jeremiah is in 10th grade, a registered Home School student of Citrus County. We would learn more about him in the next section. This Essay contest was originally established and named in honor of President Calvin Coolidge, who won a local SAR essay contest while a student at Amherst. In 1995, the contest was renamed the George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest in honor of their generous gift to the SAR to support this contest. The program is designed to give freshman, sophomore, junior and senior students an opportunity to explore events that shaped American history. Jeremiah’s essay was “The Role of the Kentucky Long Rifle in the Revolutionary War”. Clyde finished up with the presentation of a $100.00 Check and the 1st Place SAR, George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Certificate to Jeremiah.

Charlie Day, Immediate Past President, made the presentation recognizing Jeremiah Lovestrand as the 2nd place winner of the Withlacoochee, SAR, Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Contest. An Eagle Scout who wishes to participate in this contest must complete an application, which includes his Scout history, leadership in Scouting, and activities in his community and religious institution. The Scout must also complete a four-generation ancestor chart and write a theme of 500 words, with bibliography. The application is then submitted to the Withlacoochee Chapter for review. We learned that Jeremiah has been in the Cub program 5 years and the Scouting Program the past 5 years. He has 77 Merit Badges and received his Eagle award this past November.

He has camped more than 155 nights, in many parts of the country and under many kinds of Conditions. He has done some Opik camping in -20 degree weather and has canoed over 154 miles. His application was outstanding in all respects. We also learned he has been playing the Violin since the age of five and now teaches Violin. We were so pleased that he favored us with the violin tune “Ashoken Farewell”. When he finished playing, the immediate response of the audience was to spring to a standing ovation and extended applause. Jeremiah was then presented his awards, a $100.00 check, a SAR Eagle Scholarship Patch and 2nd place Eagle Scout Scholarship Certificate.

Edward Gingrich, First Vice President, introduced the Withlacoochee, SAR, Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Contest 1st Place Winner - Nathan Lovestrand, older brother of Jeremiah. He has been in Cubs and Boy Scouting for a total of 11 years, and has 126 merit badges. Like Jeremiah, he had earned the favored SAR Merit Badges, American Heritage, genealogy and law and was a 4 Star recipient of the P.R.A.Y God and Country Award. Nathan has earned 2 Silver, 2 Gold and 3 Bronze Palms since receiving his Eagle. He has camped over 230 nights, hiked 221 miles, canoed more than 175 miles and racked up more than 250 hours of aquatic activity. Nathan was outstanding in every segment of his application; however, finishing requirements for the Silver Hornaday award, the highest conservation award achievable in BSA, capped his accomplishments. Nathan has been working for six years toward this goal and completed five significant conservation projects over this time leading 67 volunteers in nearly 1400 service hours. Nathan Lovestrand is the first scout from the Gulf Ridge Council to earn this award. He is only the third from the state of Florida, and the 119th nationally since 1917. Nationally approximately 60,000 boys earned the rank of Eagle in 2013, but only three earned the Silver Hornaday. Edward Gingrich presented Nathan with the Chapter 1st place Withlacoochee Chapter Eagle Scholarship wall Certificate, first place Eagle Medal, SAR Scholarship Patch, and a check for $250.00 dollars. Nathan has won the State of FL, SAR Eagle Scout Scholarship contest in 2011, placed 2nd in 2012, and has won first again in 2013. His application is now waiting to be judged at National. The Withlacoochee Chapter, Ladies Auxiliary president, Ellie Folk, also presented Jeremiah and Nathan with appropriate gifts related to Eagles.